HITH 749, Bishop BO GIERTZ in Context

Transcription

1 HITH 749, Bishop BO GIERTZ in Context Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne STM Extension Site at Lutheran School of Theology, Gothenburg, Sweden Sept. 7-12, 2015 during Fall Quarter Instructor Rune Imberg, D.Th. (+46) (office), (+46) (priv. cell) I. CTS s Mission Statement Concordia Theological Seminary exists to form servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful, reach the lost, and care for all. II. III. IV. CTS s Identity Statement Concordia Theological Seminary is an institution of theological higher education of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod whose central purpose is to prepare men for the pastoral ministry, as well as men and women for other service in the church, through programs offering an understanding of the Christian faith that is Christ centered, Biblically based, confessionally Lutheran, and evangelically active. Course Description Bishop Giertz was one of the most important Lutheran theologians in the 20th century. In this intensive course we study his life and his personal theological development. We will analyze his theology through his writings (especially through the books translated into English) from a contextual perspective, studying how they are connected with his personal development and also the development of the modern liberal Swedish society. Course Credit Three credit hours V. Class Level Master of Sacred Theology VI. Student Learning Outcomes By the end of this course, 1. Students will be able to give an outline of important elements in Swedish Church History. 2. Students will be able to relate the life and work of Bo Giertz to the development in Sweden by using a contextual perspective, taking into consideration the development in general but especially within the Church of Sweden. 3. Students will be able to describe and give a structure of his literary production in different phases of his life. 4. Students will be able to identify, analyze and evaluate important sources to his (eclectic) theology, utilizing Swedish and European Church History. 5. Students will be able to make a detailed analysis of (the American version of) The Hammer of God, but also to present some deviances of it from the original text, Stengrunden. 6. Students will be able to analyze and evaluate important elements in his theological thinking. 1

2 VII. Textbooks 7. Students will be able to make a personal evaluation of different elements in the theology of Bo Giertz, explaining why he is important to global Christianity today, and also distinguishing between contributions which are of lasting importance, and others which are less important today. Required reading J. Bodensieck (ed): The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church III, Augsburg Publishing House, 1965; the following contributions: Pietism, III: Rosenius, III: Schartau, III: Sweden, III: Swedish Theology, III: Bo Giertz, in English Christ s Church. Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future (tr. Hans Andrae), Eugene, Or.: Resource Publications, 2010 The Hammer of God (tr. Clifford Ansgar Nelson, Hans O. Andrae), 3. ed., Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005 including Introductory Notes by Hans O. Andrae The Knights of Rhodes (tr. Bror Erickson), Eugene, Or.: Resource Publications, 2010 Essays, Meditations, Homilies, and More by Bo Giertz, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz, p ; see also below Books by Bo Giertz, in English, to be used as reference books (selected parts to be read) To Live With Christ. Devotions (tr. Rick Wood, Bror Erickson), St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publishing House, 2008 Then Fell the Lord s fire (tr. Bror Erickson), Saginaw, Mi.: Magdeburg Press, 2012 Other authors Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz. Lectures from the Centennial Symposia and Selected Essays by the Bishop, Ft. Wayne. Ind: Lutheran Legacy, 2010 Selected parts Oloph Bexell (ed.), The Meaning of Christian Liturgy. Recent Developments in the Church of Sweden, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2012, p (contributions by Bexell and Sven-Erik Brodd) Rune Imberg, A Light Shining in a Dark Place: Can a Confessional Lutheran Voice Still Be Heard in the Church of Sweden?, in: Concordia Theological Quarterly 78 (2014), p ; also found on the Internet: Rune Imberg, Bo Giertz s The Hammer of God in English, in: Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. XXVIII (2014), p ; also found on the Internet: Anders Nygren, Intellectual Autobiography (tr. Peter W. Russell), in: The Philosophy and Theology of Anders Nygren (ed. Charles W. Kegley), Carbondale: Southern Illinois Press, p Arne Rasmusson, A Century of Swedish Theology, in: Lutheran Quarterly, Vol. XXI (2007), p ; also found on the Internet: Theology.pdf On the Internet: Eric Andrae, Pietism According to Bo Giertz, Eric Andrae, Walter and Giertz: Law and Gospel Properly Distinguished / But to How Many Applied?, 2

3 Henric Schartau, Jesus Only (sermon), Gustaf Wingren, Swedish Theology Since 1900, in: Scottish Journal of Theology, 9, pp ; Internet reference: doi: /S X VIII. Teaching Methodology This course is designed as a seminar. There will be a combination of lectures of the instructor and oral presentations of the students. IX. The Course Outline 1. 9/7 (M), 10:15 12:00. Course Introduction. The Church of Sweden a historical background 1. Course introduction 2. The Church of Sweden a historical background a. The medieval Church province of Sweden b. The reformation in Sweden independent (Swedish), dependent (on the King), national (comprising the whole population) c. The unity breaks down the Enlightenment / revival movements / the loss of the eastern part (creation of Finland) / Liberal theology / political parties get control over the church d. The situation up to appr Oloph Bexell (ed.), The Meaning of Christian Liturgy. Recent Developments in the Church of Sweden, p J. Bodensieck (ed): The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church I-III, all contributions Bo Giertz, Christ s Church. Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future Rune Imberg, A Light Shining in a Dark Place: Can a Confessional Lutheran Voice Still Be Heard in the Church of Sweden? 2. 9/7 (M), 13:30 17:00 (chapel at 12:05 12:25). The Life of Bo Giertz the four stages a. The young Bo Giertz, His family background / social life His studies b. Pastor of Torpa, c. Bishop in Gothenburg, d. Bishop emeritus, Eric Andrae, Bishop Bo Harald Giertz: Pietism and the Ordo Salutis, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz. Lectures from the Centennial Symposia and Selected Essays by the Bishop, Ft. Wayne. Ind: Lutheran Legacy, 2010, p Hans Andrae, The Most Influential Swedish Churchman of the Twentieth Century: Bo Giertz as Bishop, Pastor, and Writer, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God, /8 (Tu), 9: Visit to the Gothenburg Cathedral and the old Bishop s Palace Gathering 9.15 outside the Gothenburg Cathedral Participation in Morning Prayer at the Cathedral together with Staff and Students at the L M Engström Christian High School 3

4 Coffee in the High School / old Bishop s Palace Guided tour of the old Bishop s Palace Bo Giertz - Pastor, Theologian, Bishop. Lecture by Rev. Fredrik Sidenvall, Principal of L M Engström Christian High School Lunch together with Staff and Students at the High School 4. 9/8 (Tu), 13:30 17:00. Influences on the young Bo Giertz An agnostic / atheistic upbringing Ethical perspectives in his family Cultural development in Sweden The young Church movement The ecumenical perspective Oxford Group Movement The exegetical development in Sweden (Fridrichsen, Bo Reicke / Hugo Odeberg) The High Church revival (Rosendal) Motivforschung (Lund University) Old Church revivals (Schartau and others) Low Church revivals (Rosenius and others) Anders Nygren, Intellectual Autobiography, p Arne Rasmusson, A Century of Swedish Theology, p Gustaf Wingren, Swedish Theology Since 1900, pp /9 (We), 9:15 10:00, 10:15 12:00 (coffee at 10:00 10:15). The writings of Bo Giertz a. The young Bo Giertz: ethical perspectives b. His ecclesiological project (Torpa), c. Bishop of Gothenburg - ex officio writings, d. Bishop emeritus; his exegetical project, from 1971 e. Political-prophetical perspectives B. The Giertz reception abroad a. The Nordic countries b. Germany c. England > United States d. Globally Rune Imberg, Bo Giertz s The Hammer of God in English, p /9 (We), 13:30 17:00 (chapel at 12:05 12:25). The ecclesiological project of Giertz, I. The Hammer of God I a. Christ s Church b. Kyrkofromhet (German tr.: Mit der Kirche leben) 4

5 c. Stengrunden / The Hammer of God, I The background of the book The structure of the book o The Finnish framework Publication history Bo Giertz, The Hammer of God, 3. ed. Notes (handed out at the lesson): Rune Imberg, Comments on the Hammer of God 7. 9/10 (Th), 9:15 10:00, 10:15 12:00 (coffee at 10:00 10:15). The ecclesiological project of Giertz, II The Hammer of God II Stengrunden / The Hammer of God, II Historical elements and perspectives Revivals, major and minor The title of the book The main theme: Stengrunden och nådesunder Liturgical perspectives A reading canon Important details (biological, cultural, etc.) Evaluation of the Swedish revivals Rosenius i.a. Eric Andrae, Bishop Bo Harald Giertz: Pietism and the Ordo Salutis, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: p Eric Andrae, Pietism According to Bo Giertz Eric Andrae, The Hammer of God: Law and Gospel Enfleshed, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz, p Eric Andrae, Walter and Giertz: Law and Gospel Properly Distinguished / But to How Many Applied?" Naomichi Masaki, Johannes Heavenly Vision. The Hammer of God and the Swedish Communion Liturgy, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz, p Robert Kolb, Bishop Giertz s Use of History in Stengrunden, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God: Bo Giertz., p Henric Schartau, Jesus Only (sermon) 8. 9/10 (Th), 13:30 17:00 (chapel at 12:05 12:25). The ecclesiological project, III Giertz second novel, from the Reformation era: Tron allena (German tr.: Das Herz aller Dinge) His catechetical teaching: Grunden A Jesus biography: Med egna ögon / With my Own Eyes Dogmatical essays I, Den stora lögnen och den stora sanningen (German tr.: Die grosse Lüge und die Grosse Wahrheit) Dogmatical essays II, Kampen om människan 5

6 9. 9/11 (Fr), 9:15 10:00, 10:15 12:00 (coffee at 10:00 10:15). Bo Giertz the bishop 1. Bo Giertz Bishop of Gothenburg Bishop in the Diocese of Gothenburg tireless, respected, and feared Bo Giertz Pastor, Bishop and Preacher International engagements CSM, LWF Consecration of Missionary Bishop in Tanganyika with Nathan Söderblom as a role model? 2. His writings Pastoral letter to the Diocese of Gothenburg, 1949 (German tr.: Sendschreiben an die evangelische Christenheit) Pioneer in Religious Sociology? 4 Episcopal addresses to the Clergy and Diocese Vad säger Guds Ord? / Preaching from the whole Bible Visit to Africa, Afrikanska överraskningar Minor texts 3. Summary: The Message of the Church in a Time of Crisis and Other Essays 10. 9/11 (Fr), 13:30 17:00 (chapel at 12:05 12:25). Bishop emeritus, I 1. His exegetical project Bible exposition Bible translation Bible hermeneutics: Att kunna läsa sin Bibel (German tr. Gott spricht zu Dir: ABC für Bibelleser) 2. His view of the Bible Bror Erickson: To Believe In and To Live With Christ: Bo Giertz, Man of Faith and Prayer, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God, p /12 (Sat), 9:15 10:00, 10:20 12:00 (coffee at 10:00 10:15). Bishop emeritus, II 1. His inheritence : Giertz as a Dogmatician Trons ABC (German tr. Evangelisch glauben: Hilfen zum Verstehen) Devotional writings: Att tro på Kristus, Att leva med Kristus / To Live with Christ His last novel: Why fighting a lost battle? Riddarna på Rhodos / The Knights of Rhodes A late interview with Bishop Giertz, Fredrik Sidenvall, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God, p Conclusion and Summary of the Course Bo Giertz, The Knights of Rhodes Bo Giertz, Selected parts of: Bo Giertz, To Live With Christ. Devotions Fredrik Sidenvall, Interview with Bishop Bo Giertz Before His 90 th Birthday, in: Eric Andrae (ed.): A Hammer for God, p

7 X. Assignments A. To be read before the course starts J. Bodensieck (ed): The Encyclopedia of the Lutheran Church I-III, Augsburg Publishing House, 1965; all contributions. Bo Giertz: The Hammer of God (tr. Clifford Ansgar Nelson, Hans O. Andrae), 3. ed., Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2005 including Introductory Notes by Hans O. Andrae Christ s Church. Her Biblical Roots, Her Dramatic History, Her Saving Presence, Her Glorious Future, Eugene, Or.: Resource Publications, 2010 The Knights of Rhodes, tr. Bror Erickson B. To be read before the course ends The remaining literature. C. To be used before handing in the final papers (as reference literature) Bo Giertz: To Live With Christ. Devotions (tr. Rick Wood, Bror Erickson), St. Louis, Mo.: Concordia Publishing House, 2008 Selected parts Then fell the Lord s fire (tr. Bror Erickson), Magdeburg Assignments to be handed in when the course starts maximum 500 words per question 1. Describe the structure of The Hammer of God, especially indicating what Giertz wants to show / prove / say in the three different sections. Why did he, in your opinion, write the book? 2. In what way can the The Hammer of God be described as a continuation of Christ s Church? 2. Assignments to be handed in before the end of the course max. 500 words/question 1. What influences from the Swedish Church history, appr , do you find in the writings of Giertz? (Revival movements, Pietism, Schartau, Rosenius, High Church theology etc.) 2. How would you characterize Bo Giertz as a novelist, considering these two novels (The Hammer of God, and The Knights of Rhodes, respectively)? What main theological themes do you find in these three books (the two novels + Christ s Church)? Hint: think of theo-logy, anthropology, salvation etc. 3. Opus magnum to be sent to the teacher, not later than Oct. 9, maximum words (for instructions, see below) Write a short essay on the life - work - theology of Bo Giertz where you give an outline of his life describe how his life / work / theology influenced one another describe some theological, cultural and even political developments in Sweden and Europe in the 20th century which you have met in the course. Give examples of elements that influenced Bo Giertz and give examples of elements that he rejected. give an evaluation of his literary output as you have met it. Which books / articles / elements of his theology are of lasting importance, which of less and which feel more out of date according to your opinion? Give the reasons for your evaluation! Try to use both Giertz own writings (involving all important genres: theological texts, novels and devotional literature, including the reference books) and the secondary sources. 7

8 XI. Requirements 1. Basic Expectations a. Students are expected to attend all classes as it is written in the Student Handbook. If absence from class becomes necessary, the student must inform the instructor before that happens. Otherwise, the student should expect some affect in his or her final grade. b. Students are to attend daily offices at the chapel at 12:05 12:25 pm. c. Reading and Active Participation: Students who do not speak up in class should expect a lower final grade, assuming that they are not diligent in reading assignments. d. Use of Computer/Cell Phone etc. in Class: Since students are expected to actively participate in the classroom discussion, except for note-taking and other occasions, such as when the instructor gives some directions to search documents in MyClasses, the computer/cell phone/notepad, etc. is not needed. The students who appear to visit websites or use the electronic devises during the class rather than to participate in it should expect a lower final grade for the same reason. 2. Specific Requirements for This Class: a. A Timetable of This Course: 1 As the STM program in the main campus of Fort Wayne is run by a quarter system where an academic year is divided into four ten weeks quarters, so the STM extension program at Gothenburg follows the same system. The only difference is that the one week intensive courses (early September, November, and early March) fall on quarter break time of Fort Wayne campus. A September course is considered as a Fall Quarter course, November as Winter Quarter and March as Spring Quarter courses. 2 However, so that the students have adequate time to prepare for the course, they are given a syllabus of a given course with pre-course assignments at least four to five weeks ahead of the class time. And after the intensive week is over, the students are given additional four to five weeks to complete all the remaining assignments. 3 In the case of this course, the timetable looks like the following: (a) Not later than July 1, 2015, students will receive a syllabus and pre-course assignments. (b) The class will meet on September 7-12, 2015 at LSTG. (c) The last day to turn in the post-course assignments will be October 9, b. Pre-Course Assignments: 1 All students are required to visit CTSFW s website at and read the description of the STM program in the Academic Catalog , pp , which is available by clicking Academics, then, Academic Catalog. Also each student is required to read the STM Manual 3 rd Edition, which is found again at the same CTSFW website under Academics, Graduate Studies, STM, Student Documents, and STM Manual 3 rd Edition. Take time to read these documents carefully. 8

9 2 In general: (a) Please begin to prepare for the course by reading the assigned literature before the course starts. (b) Be prepared to make oral contributions on the topics we will be discussing in class. (c) Be also prepared to make a handout on a specific Giertz topic, if requested to do so, which will be distributed in class. Please prepare 15 copies (13 students at the time of the writing of this syllabus, plus the instructor, plus one extra). The format shall be: o 1 2 pages o Single-spaced, and double-spaced between paragraphs o Font to use is Times New Romans with size 11 o Leave margins of each corner 1 inch (roughly 2.5 cm) c. Post-Course Assignment: 1 Each student will prepare a research paper (opus magnum) on a topic of his choosing related to the course. 2 Before the end of the class time in Gothenburg, i.e. September 12, 2015, each student must submit one page outline of the structure you intend to use when making your research paper. 3 The opus magnum is to have a scholarly focus and a relevant form. Obviously, polemical way of writing is discouraged. When making assertions, those assertions must be substantiated by the hard data. The paper which does not follow this procedure will have a lower grade. 4 The paper must follow specific style and format. (a) pages in length (or 2,000 2,500 words) (b) Double-spaced, font Times New Roman size #12, margin 1 inch four corners. (c) Conform to Turabian s 6 th editions and above (the most important part of the Turabian is found in MyClass page). (d) Don t forget to put your name in page 1. Also add page numbers in the paper. The papers which do not follow these specifications will have a lower grade. 5 The time table of the opus magnum is as follows: (a) As mentioned, by September 12, 2015, submit a one-page prospectus to the instructor for approval. (b) The due date for sending the opus magnum (via attachment) is October 9, d. Grading 1 Pre-course paper assignments (20%) 2 In-course assignments (20%) 3 Active participation in class (10%) 4 Opus Magnum (50%) 5 These numbers are only approximate. The instructor s subjective assessment on each student s attitude, participation, growth in theology, etc. will also be added for the final grade. 9

10 XII. Consultation Since this is an intensive course at the Lutheran School of Theology at Gothenburg (LSTG/FFG), a particular office hour is not set up. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor for questions and comments through both before and after the sessions. 10